Lorem Ipsum vs Real Content: When to Use Each

One of the most common questions in design and development is: "Should I use Lorem Ipsum or real content?" The answer isn't always straightforward, and getting it wrong can lead to costly redesigns, miscommunication with stakeholders, or accessibility issues.

This guide will help you make the right choice every time.

Understanding the Trade-offs

Both placeholder text and real content have their place in the design process. The key is knowing when each approach serves your goals best.

Why Lorem Ipsum Exists

Lorem Ipsum has been the industry standard for placeholder text since the 1500s. It exists because:

• Focuses attention on design — Readable content distracts reviewers from evaluating layout, typography, and visual hierarchy
• Prevents premature content debates — Stakeholders won't nitpick copy that doesn't exist yet
• Speeds up early iterations — No waiting for copywriters to deliver final content
• Maintains confidentiality — Useful when sharing mockups externally

Why Real Content Matters

On the flip side, real content reveals truths that Lorem Ipsum hides:

• Actual text length varies — Headlines might be 3 words or 15 words
• Content affects layout — Long product names break grids, short descriptions leave gaps
• Localization challenges — German text is often 30% longer than English
• Emotional impact — Real copy evokes feelings that affect design decisions

The Decision Framework

Use this simple framework to decide which approach fits your situation:

Use Lorem Ipsum When:

Use Real Content When:

Stage-by-Stage Recommendations

Here's how to approach content at each project phase:

1. Discovery & Wireframing

Recommendation: Lorem Ipsum is fine

At this stage, you're exploring structure and flow. Placeholder text keeps discussions focused on:

• Information architecture
• User journeys
• Feature prioritization

💡 Pro tip: Use our Lorem Ipsum generator to quickly create content for wireframes. Choose from multiple styles to add visual variety without writing actual copy.

2. Design Exploration

Recommendation: Mix of both

When comparing design directions:

• Use Lorem Ipsum for rapid iteration
• Insert some real content in key areas (headlines, CTAs, navigation)

This hybrid approach lets you move fast while catching obvious content-layout conflicts early.

3. High-Fidelity Design

Recommendation: Shift to real content

As designs mature, real content becomes critical:

• Request draft copy from content teams
• Use realistic data in tables and lists
• Test with actual user-generated content lengths

If final copy isn't available, write "content-realistic" placeholder—text that mimics real content's length and structure.

4. User Testing

Recommendation: Real content required

Never test with Lorem Ipsum. Users will:

• Struggle to complete tasks
• Provide feedback on the wrong things
• Miss usability issues hidden by fake content

Even "good enough" draft content is infinitely better than Latin gibberish.

5. Development & QA

Recommendation: Real content essential

Developers need actual content to:

• Handle text overflow correctly
• Implement proper truncation
• Test responsive behavior
• Validate character limits

6. Accessibility Review

Recommendation: Real content mandatory

This is non-negotiable. Accessibility testing requires real content because:

• Screen readers must convey meaning
• Reading level analysis needs actual text
• Alt text must describe real images
• Form labels must make sense

Learn more about this critical topic in our guide on accessibility and placeholder text.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Using Lorem Ipsum in Final Deliverables

The problem: Placeholder text accidentally ships to production.

How it happens: "Temporary" Lorem Ipsum survives through reviews because everyone assumes someone else will replace it.

The fix: Establish a "no Lorem Ipsum" rule for any deliverable leaving the design team.

Mistake 2: Ignoring Content Length Variations

The problem: Designs break with real content.

How it happens: Lorem Ipsum is infinitely adjustable. Real headlines aren't.

The fix: Test designs with minimum and maximum content lengths:

• Shortest realistic headline
• Longest realistic headline
• Edge cases (numbers, special characters)

Mistake 3: Skipping Content Strategy

The problem: Beautiful designs with terrible content.

How it happens: Teams treat content as "someone else's job" and design in a vacuum.

The fix: Involve content strategists from day one. Even rough content direction beats Lorem Ipsum.

Mistake 4: One-Size-Fits-All Approach

The problem: Using the same approach regardless of context.

How it happens: Teams develop habits ("we always use Lorem Ipsum") without questioning whether it's appropriate.

The fix: Make a conscious decision at each project phase using the framework above.

Tools for Each Approach

For Lorem Ipsum

When placeholder text is appropriate, use quality generators:

• Lorem Genius — Multiple styles (Standard, Hipster, Cupcake, Gen Z) with HTML/Markdown export
• Design tool plugins (Figma, Sketch)
• Browser extensions for quick copy-paste

For Real-ish Content

When you need content-aware placeholders:

• Content templates — Pre-written samples for common UI patterns
• Content inventories — Repurpose existing copy from similar projects
• AI writing assistants — Generate draft content for testing (but human-review before launch)

Quick Reference Checklist

Before starting any design work, ask yourself:

• What stage is this project in?
• Who is the audience for this deliverable?
• Will users interact with this design?
• Does this need accessibility review?
• Is this going to external stakeholders?
• How much will the real content vary in length?

Your answers will guide the right content approach.

The Bottom Line

Lorem Ipsum is a powerful tool—but like any tool, it's only effective when used appropriately.

Early stages: Lorem Ipsum accelerates exploration and keeps focus on design fundamentals.

Later stages: Real content prevents costly surprises and ensures designs work in the real world.

The best designers know when to use each. Now you do too.

---

Ready to generate placeholder text for your next wireframe? Try our free Lorem Ipsum generator with multiple styles and export formats.